Who’s ready for the first Iowa caucus ad of 2016?

posted at 2:57 pm on March 8, 2013 by Erika Johnsen

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell did not do himself any favors with conservatives when he signed his big transportation bill into law last month — it certainly looks like it will be a tax increase in practice (one of his economic advisers just resigned in protest because of it), and the agreement to allow a bicameral commission to decide on whether Virginia will expand Medicaid was definitely not okay.

Just in case McDonnell has any ideas about a presidential bid in 2016, a conservative super PAC is looking to nip those ambitions in the bud… with an ad in Iowa?

Nearly three years ahead of the 2016 Iowa caucuses, the Patriot Super PAC, a Fairfax-based group with tea party leanings, has taken out a tiny TV ad buy of less than $5,000 urging Iowans to beware.

McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin made light of the ad, saying, “A $5,000 dollar TV ‘buy’ isn’t an attempt to run the first real ad of 2016. It’s an attempt to get articles about running the first TV ad of 2016. In any case, if the Patriot Super PAC is indeed a group of “super patriots” they will immediately apologize to the good people of Iowa for bothering them with an inane political ad in March of 2013- no matter how minuscule the buy. Iowans deserve at least a year off from presidential campaigns.”

Er, McDonnell 2016? I’m sure he’s thought about it in the past, but mounting the effort to try and compete with the more charismatic Rubio, Paul, Jindal, Christie, etcetera ready and rarin’ on the Republican bench? I’m having trouble seeing it.

But heck, while we’re on the 2016 topic, Quinnipiac‘s latest poses a a few of the next presidential cycle’s hypothetical match-ups. Not-at-all surprisingly, Hillary Clinton’s name recognition sweeps the field, and she’s the Democrats’ most formidable contender of the proffered three — with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie giving her the biggest run for her money:

Hillary Clinton would defeat three potential Republican presidential candidates if the 2016 presidential election were held today, with New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie second in a field of three Democrats and three Republicans selected by Quinnipiac University for a national poll released today. …

Former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State Clinton wins easily against any of the Republicans, topping Christie 45 – 37 percent; leading Rubio 50 – 34 percent and besting Ryan 50 – 38 percent. …

The only ones I’m willing to support at this point are Rand Paul, Ben Carson(should he run) Bobby Jindal and Marco Rubio. Any taxing hiking, Mediacare expanding, foot stomping fat men are off the list. No way, no how.

but mounting the effort to try and compete with the more charismatic Rubio, Paul, Jindal, Christie, etcetera ready and rarin’ on the Republican bench? I’m having trouble seeing it.

OK, I’m with you on the Rubio, Paul, and Christie being more charismatic than McDonnell, but Jindal? I’ve seen telephone poles with more personality than Jindal. Hell, he even gives T-Paw a run for his money.

That’s not to say Jindal isn’t a fine governor or that he wouldn’t make a good President, but I wouldn’t exactly call him charismatic.

Er, McDonnell 2016? I’m sure he’s thought about it in the past, but mounting the effort to try and compete with the more charismatic Rubio, Paul, Jindal, Christie, etcetera ready and rarin’ on the Republican bench? I’m having trouble seeing it.

McDonnell has a legitimate chance to be a dark horse candidate if he gets in, as he’ll do well in primary debates. The man is both telegenic and does much better than Rubio, Jindal, and Paul in giving succinct, common sense answers to questions. Not saying he’s more intelligent than those three, but he knows how to get the point across. He’d be the anti-Christie in the sense that he’s a Virginian who isn’t going to be brash and unapologetic like Christie. That’ll play well with some voters. He’s not my first choice. Or my second. But we HotAir commenters forget the power that catchy phrases and looking professional (without Huntsman’s smugness) can have on primary voters.

You know, I am always surprised at those names that float around and those that don’t. Why do governors like Jindal, Perry, McDonnell get named while governers like Utah’s Herbert, or either of the Dakota’s governors, etc? Heck, with the booming economy in the Dakota’s, why NOT them?

There’s lots of governors in the country–so why don’t some of them ever come up either to mock or to even float?

Well, we have you today, then we had (an accusation) a question that he was surrendering to Obamacare yesterday.

Then we had:

remember the establishment will fall in line behind one guy early and wait for the conservatives and tea party types to bleed each other. McDonnell might be banking on being that guy.

bannor on March 8, 2013 at 3:40 PM

This undoubtedly true comment was supported by:

Sounds like a Republican politician who thought he could pass tax increases and other Democrat policies for a year or so without anyone paying attention.

RJL on March 8, 2013 at 3:59 PM

And then there was a short line recently calling him a RINO.

I supported the guy, talked to his friends, stole his food and I think he has the makings of a great leader. I am serious.

He is a sharp manager. He is honest. He has common sense and is grounded in traditional values such as pro life and other weird stuff you guys love. Now why not toss the dude out the window when you know nothing about him except he has a transportation plan that raises gas taxes. Have you visited his site? Have you tried to drive in Northern Virginia lately?

I really want to know:

Are you guys really Democrats like some of those who shot anything that moved in early 2008?

Familiar style…Trying to figure out if that commercial emanated from ad agency Shoddhi & Cheep, or perhaps from Myazzin Texas. The cutout style felt distinctly Shoddhi & Cheep, while the production values look like they sprung from Myazzin Texas.

Hey jawkneemusic…Why on earth would you support Ben Carson? Not a fan of the second amendment?
hatecraft on March 8, 2013 at 3:53 PM

Of course I’m a fan of the 2nd. I’ve been fighting hard to stop the gun grab here in colorado. That said, while I believe Carson is wildly wrong about what he said on the subject I don’t believe he would be a major threat to the 2nd. I’m hoping with a little education he can over come that silly position. I like Carson because he says what he means and I’m not a single issue voter. We need someone who knows the medical industry. An outsider, someone who believes in a fair tax. We need less lawyers in government and more people like him.